The Coordination Union for Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE) has emphasised the importance of capacity building in sustaining environmental conservation efforts.
The organisation made the observation during a training session held in Blantyre, where participants were equipped with skills in resource mobilization, geographical information systems (GIS), and remote sensing.
With self-financed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) facing increasing challenges in sustaining operations, CURE underscored the need for strategic funding acquisition and resource management.
Renowned conservationist, Carl Bruessow, who is also Executive Director of the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust, led a session on resource mobilization. Drawing from his leadership experience at the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi and the Malawi Environmental Endowment Trust, Bruessow stressed the significance of protocols, participation, partnerships, and peer networks.
He emphasised that authenticity and inclusivity are key to securing funding within the environmental sector.
Meanwhile, Mathews Tsilizeni PhD, Country Director of WeForest, introduced participants to the fundamentals of remote sensing. He described it as both a science and an art used to gather information about objects, areas, or phenomena without direct physical contact. He further explained its role in environmental monitoring and landscape restoration.
Tsilizeni said the training aligns with CURE’s ongoing landscape restoration project, which aims to enhance community resilience around the Chiradzulu Forest Reserve. The initiative, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) based in Bonn, Germany, began in May 2023 and will run until May 2025. CURE says such training sessions are crucial in strengthening technical expertise and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
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